My crazed pursuit of good design emerged a year after I graduated from college, albeit I’ve always had a love of “the arts” (raise that pinky). However, I was living at home (with my parents; every graduate’s dream) and working as a receptionist for a local aesthetician. The phone rarely rang, and there were very few walk-in clients or shoppers—I dedicated the majority of my time to my laptop, exploring graduate school options online (found ya, Ooligan Press!) and graphic design in hopes of helping my employer rebrand her current business. Long story short, I was able to rebrand my employer’s business after some persuasion, but I was also sparked with a profound interest in a very specific minimalistic aesthetic.

As a member of the group working on Siblings and Other Disappointments by Kait Heacock, I’ve found myself exploring graphic design once again in hopes of creating something that will help promote the publication to its truest form. I’m going to ramble off some blogs and fonts that might tickle your fancy, because they do mine.

Here are some of the blogs that I frequently visit embodying the convictions I admire:

• • It’s Nice That: This is currently my homepage. It’s Nice That is based out of London and is updated daily, mostly with European designers. However, it showcases many print and online publications.

• • Need Supply Co.: Need Supply Co. is a clothing and curated-land-of-beauty based out of Richmond, Virginia. While their clothing is on a whole other price range that my measly pocket book can’t even begin to fathom, their blog is phenomenal. They also started releasing a bi-annual journal called Human Being that is currently on its sixth issue.

• Many Stuff: This is the blog of all editorial and curatorial blogs on the web! Many Stuff is operated by Charlotte Cheetham, a French curator based out of Paris. Sadly Many Stuff was put to rest on January 4 this year. However, it now serves as an everlasting archive as Cheetham begins a new creative, internet web stance. Stay tuned.

I must mention my favorite typeface as well! To put it lightly, I totally geeked out when I found Stefania Malmsten. Line was created once she was taken on board to redesign Rodeo Magazine. No, I am not a secret-agent-marketer for Malmsten’s beautiful typeface (I wish I were); I’m merely a severe swooner of this woman’s fighting ability in the typography scene. After seeing all of those dainty ligatures and precise, essential lines forming mesmerizing letters, I insisted my employer needed this font for her branding. She eventually agreed. I currently have the typeface on my computer. I’ll let you play with it—if you’re nice—because, oh my, the glyphs are fantastic.

On the same note, here are some typographical designers explaining why they love the fonts they love, because we all have our reasons.

Being that this is all I’ve been feverishly researching as of late, I thought I’d share what inspires this Oolie. We all have our own personal aesthetic, but this is my jam. I wanna see your jam too.